Do you have questions about solar? We have answers

Because each solar panel system is custom designed for a home or business, there is no “one cost” of solar panels. Each installation begins with a customized quote based on several factors, including how much you spend on electricity, how large your roof is, and if you’re a residential or commercial customer. For residential installations (and commercial, if chosen), Boston Solar gives customers the choice between LG and S-Energy solar panels. Click here to learn more about the products we offer.

Many customers have asked us about the effect of the solar panel tariff recently announced on Boston Solar. The short answer is that the tariff will have no immediate effect on Boston Solar in 2019.

Every solar panel system is custom designed. Between financing and incentives, customers are usually cash-flow positive in their first year. Massachusetts has one of the strongest solar incentive programs in the country. In addition, federal tax credits and low-interest solar loans contribute to a positive cash flow.

Electricity prices typically fluctuate seasonally and have increased on average by 3% nationally over the last 10 years. By owning a solar system, you produce your own power and are less exposed to the volatility and future electricity cost increases.

For residential customers, Boston Solar offers a variety of solar financing options. Not interested in owning your own system? No worries - we also offer a solar lease through SunPower. A Solar Consultant will explain our options and customize a solution that has you cash flow positive in the first year. To learn more about residential financing options, click here.

In late 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER) developed Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) to double its solar capacity to over three gigawatts (GW). SMART has replaced the previous solar incentive program in Massachusetts, Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). SMART provides a monthly payment to homeowners for the energy you produce. You also qualify for a 30% federal tax credit and will receive up to $1,000 state tax credit. If a customer chooses a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement (commercial customers only) instead of purchasing or financing, they are not eligible for any federal or Massachusetts solar incentives.

For more on residential ownership and finance options, click here. To learn more about SMART, check out our blog post.

Our solar systems are warrantied to last 25 years and are virtually maintenance free, with the exception of the inverters, which typically last 12-15 years. However, our residential systems come with an automatic inverter warranty extension from 12 to 25 years. Click here to learn more about the products for residential solar systems. Click here to read our most recent blog post about solar panels productivity and maintenance.

When you have a solar system installed, the electric company installs a meter that can "tick backwards" allowing you to "store" the excess energy you produce for use during non-sunlight hours. This is called NET METERING. Many solar panel system owners are at work during the day when a solar system typically produces the most energy. While you may not be using that energy, your utility lets you use it at a later time when you're not producing. If you produce more energy than you use in a month, you'll see that your total usage is negative. Utilities determine this by taking the current reading and subtracting the previous reading for a total usage calculation. If you have a negative "balance", this balance can be used to pay the customer charge charged by all utilities. If not, you will have this charge.

Boston Solar designs all solar systems to offset your electric bill as much as possible. You can offset up to 100% of your bill. However, this depends on factors we take into consideration such as roof direction, pitch, shading, etc.

Boston Solar offers the strongest warranty package in Massachusetts at no additional cost to the customer. Solar panel warranties are 25 years, we extend the warranty for inverter(s) to 25-years and also include a 10-year workmanship guarantee.

Boston Solar now offers a Production Guarantee on your residential solar system. Now, when you install a residential solar PV system with Boston Solar, your solar investment will be backed by our Production Guarantee. Our Production Guarantee offers assured energy production of at least 90% over the first ten years that your system runs — or we’ll pay the difference. Our Production Guarantee covers energy production for the first ten years of your system’s lifespan and is assessed every two years. Click here to read our most recent blog about our new 10-year Production Guarantee.

Why Choose Boston Solar for Your MA Home Solar Installation

We only use the best solar products on the planet

There are 4 main components to a solar panel installation: solar panels, racking, inverter and monitoring. The solar panels Boston Solar installs can generate 70% more energy in the same space over 25 years. We only install the best solar panels, racking, inverters, and monitoring software.

Solar Panels - LG, Hyundai or SunPower

Boston Solar offers a variety of options for solar panels to meet the needs of home owners. All solar panels offered are the highest quality and most efficient panels on the market. The power of the solar panels we install range from 300-360W. They deliver maximum performance with premier technology. Learn more about solar panel productivity and maintenance here.

Racking

Depending on the panel you choose, we choose the racking that is best suited for that panel. We always consider aesthetics when we are installing solar panels, so you don't need to worry about racking showing on your roof. It will look seemless with your solar panel installation. Not only that, but questions about roof penetration? We have a blog post about that - CLICK HERE.

Inverter - SolarEdge

SolarEdge is the leading residential inverter supplier in the United States. With their inverters, your solar panels are optimized even further for maximum solar panel energy output. This means your panels will always produce the maximum potential power even if there is shading, snow, leaves or bird droppings interfere. Click here for the technical specifications of the SolarEdge residential inverters.

Solar Energy Monitoring

The best part about having a solar system is knowing it's producing power and being able to see and understand the impact it's having on your electricity bill. With SolarEdge's PV Monitoring, you will be able to see the impact your system is having on the environment and timelined charts telling the power you're producing. Depending on your finance/purchase/payment options, you may have SolarEdge or SunPower monitoring.

Solar Energy Financing & Payment Options

See how much you could save by going solar with Boston Solar. Boston Solar offers many financing and payment options to help you go solar with $0 down.

Purchasing a solar panel system directly will offer you the highest return on your investment. With this option, you receive all Federal and State incentives, without any fees or interest payments that accompany loans. If you buy a solar panel system, roughly 30-50% of the cost is returned to you through tax credits, a state rebate and Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) within the first year and you become cash positive. Over the next 10-20 years, SMART payments are sent out monthly for the energy you produce.

To get around the hurdle of upfront costs, we offer 100% financing programs through Massachusetts Solar Loans and Sungage Financial. This allows you to own your solar array, take advantage of all the tax credits and rebates, and make a profit in the first year. A solar system saves you on your electric bills and earns you monthly income through Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART). You pay nothing out of pocket and still have greater system generated savings than your low monthly payments.

If you choose a solar lease facilitated by Boston Solar, the solar lease provider owns the solar panel system, receives all of the federal tax credits, state rebates, monthly SMART payments and you have a monthly lease payment for 20 years. You will still receive the benefits of a lower utility bill, but will not own the system.

OPTION: CASH

Purchase and own your solar system. You will have a 25-year warranty on the panels and inverter(s) and a 10-year workmanship warranty. All federal/state tax credits and SMART payments are yours!

You

Ownership

You

Tax Credits

Incentives (SMART)

Down Payment

30%

Monthly Payments

n/a

Payment Terms

30% at contract signing
60% at installation
10% at system start up

Interest Rate

n/a

Solar Panels and Inverter(s) Warranty

25 years

Workmanship Guarantee

10 years

Solar Energy Monitoring

OPTION: MASS SOLAR LOAN

Put $0 down and have a fixed monthly investment payment to a loan company through Mass Solar Loan until the loan is paid off. You will own the system, receiving 25-year warranty on the panels and inverter(s) and a 10 year workmanship warranty. All federal/state tax credits and SMART payments are yours!

Mass Solar Loan

Ownership

You

Tax Credits

Incentives (SMART)

Down Payment

$0 down

Monthly Payments

Fixed monthly investment payment

Payment Terms

35% at finance approval
65% at system start up

Interest Rate

4.99%

Solar Panels and Inverter(s) Warranty

25 years

Workmanship Guarantee

10 years

Solar Energy Monitoring

OPTION: SUNGAGE LOAN

Put $0 down and have a fixed monthly investment payment to Sungage Financial until the loan is paid off. You will own the system, receiving 25-year warranty on the panels and inverter(s) and a 10-year workmanship warranty. All federal/state tax credits and SMART payments are yours!

Sungage Loan

Ownership

You

Tax Credits

Incentives (SMART)

Down Payment

$0 down

Monthly Payments

Fixed monthly investment payment

Payment Terms

80% at installation
20% at system start up

Interest Rate

6.49%

Solar Panels and Inverter(s) Warranty

25 years

Workmanship Guarantee

10 years

Solar Energy Monitoring

OPTION: LEASE

Put $0 down and have a fixed monthly lease payment to SunPower. SunPower will own the system, receiving a 25-year warranty on the panels and inverter(s) and a 10-year workmanship warranty. All federal/state tax credits and SMART payments go to SunPower, not the homeowner.